Meals On Wheels Carries Larger Fuel Bill

SAN DIEGO  Meals on Wheels Greater San Diego delivers hot food and a warm smile to about 2,300 senior citizens over the course of a year. The agency drives meals to six drop off points and then lets volunteer drivers shuttle the food along 95 routes.

Soaring gas prices cost the agency $7,200 more in the first quarter of this year, than in the first quarter of last year.

"And if we really look at it on a day to day basis, we could be serving 200 more citizens a day with the money that we're spending on this fuel just to get the food to these drop sites," said Meals on Wheels President and CEO Debbie Case.

The agency is also struggling to hold onto volunteer drivers, because those volunteers provide the vehicle and fuel used to deliver the meals to homes. Case needs about 150 volunteers a day to serve the 600-850 seniors who rely on the program.

"Yes its two nutritious meals a day with beverage and we fall within all the government guidelines," said Case. "But the more important thing is that well being check. There's that friendly face at the door."

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